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Berger responds to calls for his resignation

Brian Berger (left) shakes hands with Gov. Pat McCrory just before handing the governor a 10-page manifesto on Thursday in Wilmington. Photo courtesy New Hanover County

By Ashley Withers

Published: Monday, March 25, 2013 at 2:16 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, March 25, 2013 at 5:22 p.m.

In a four-minute-long voicemail for the StarNews left at 11:38 p.m. Friday night, New Hanover County Commissioner Brian Berger responded to Chairman Woody White’s call for his resignation.

“I would love to know how anyone could possibly call me violent and a threat,” Berger said. “I can’t think of anyone more docile and nonviolent than me. I’m sure there are some, but not here in Wilmington.

“If (White) really did make a statement like that to abuse the system and take out a restraining order on me to further hamper my ability to perform my job and discriminate against me because I don’t measure up to his standards of handsomeness and charm that should be his problem. It doesn’t really impact the daily lives of most citizens, except to have to sit through more stories that churn my name.”

Berger also repeated multiple times in the voicemail that he did not know what could have happened to have prompted White to ask him to step down and that he had not yet read through the email containing White’s request.

Berger could not be reached for further comment Monday.

White sent Berger an email calling for his resignation Friday morning.

“I implore you to gather with your friends and family, and seek treatment,” White wrote. “I will help with that, if asked, for free. But I also ask – implore – that you resign immediately. It is time. It was time for you to do so long ago, but these recent episodes have reached a critical mass.”

The recent episodes White refers to include a run-in with N.C. Gov. Pat McCrory and his security team and Berger’s unauthorized trip to Washington, D.C., to pass out thousands of copies of his manifesto. The manifesto threatens some county staff members and falsely accuses both current and former officials of illegal activity.

White was joined Saturday by the New Hanover County Republican Party in calling for Berger’s resignation.

The GOP passed a resolution during its annual convention to censure Berger and ask him to resign.

“This was a warning that we don’t approve of his behavior,” said Rhonda Amoroso, the county GOP chairwoman, Monday.

A resolution to ask Berger to step down was discussed last year, but it was eventually tabled. However, Amoroso said recent events made the move necessary.

“A lot of us have been very disturbed by his recent behavior. I was very troubled and upset by what happened with the governor,” she said. “We would not want to see that (Gov. Pat) McCrory not want to come back to Wilmington as a result of his behavior.”

However, both White and the county GOP have their hands tied when it comes to forcing Berger off of the board of commissioners.

In North Carolina, there are only four ways to remove an elected official beyond their own resignation: if the member is convicted of a felony, corruption, financial or election law violations; the legislature passes an act removing him; or the attorney general brings action on behalf of the state in Superior Court. The board could also do an amotion, a North Carolina common law rule that deals with a private corporation removing an officer because he was unfit.

White said Friday that the board was exploring all legal options to help the board and the county staff feel safe. As a result, extra security precautions have been added at the county Government Center to prevent Berger from entering the county manager’s office and county attorney’s office after regular business hours.

White also said the board and county staff have looked into taking out a non-domestic violence restraining order against Berger, but no final decision has yet been made.

<p>In a four-minute-long voicemail for the StarNews left at 11:38 p.m. Friday night, New Hanover County Commissioner <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9976"><b>Brian Berger</b></a> responded to Chairman Woody White's call for his resignation.</p><p>“I would love to know how anyone could possibly call me violent and a threat,” Berger said. “I can't think of anyone more docile and nonviolent than me. I'm sure there are some, but not here in Wilmington.</p><p>“If (White) really did make a statement like that to abuse the system and take out a restraining order on me to further hamper my ability to perform my job and discriminate against me because I don't measure up to his standards of handsomeness and charm that should be his problem. It doesn't really impact the daily lives of most citizens, except to have to sit through more stories that churn my name.”</p><p>Berger also repeated multiple times in the voicemail that he did not know what could have happened to have prompted White to ask him to step down and that he had not yet read through the email containing White's request.</p><p>Berger could not be reached for further comment Monday.</p><p>White sent Berger an email calling for his resignation Friday morning.</p><p>“I implore you to gather with your friends and family, and seek treatment,” White wrote. “I will help with that, if asked, for free. But I also ask – implore – that you resign immediately. It is time. It was time for you to do so long ago, but these recent episodes have reached a critical mass.”</p><p>The recent episodes White refers to include a run-in with N.C. Gov. Pat McCrory and his security team and Berger's unauthorized trip to Washington, D.C., to pass out thousands of copies of his manifesto. The manifesto threatens some county staff members and falsely accuses both current and former officials of illegal activity.</p><p>White was joined Saturday by the New Hanover County Republican Party in calling for Berger's resignation.</p><p>The GOP passed a resolution during its annual convention to censure Berger and ask him to resign.</p><p>“This was a warning that we don't approve of his behavior,” said Rhonda Amoroso, the county GOP chairwoman, Monday.</p><p>A resolution to ask Berger to step down was discussed last year, but it was eventually tabled. However, Amoroso said recent events made the move necessary.</p><p>“A lot of us have been very disturbed by his recent behavior. I was very troubled and upset by what happened with the governor,” she said. “We would not want to see that (Gov. Pat) McCrory not want to come back to Wilmington as a result of his behavior.”</p><p>However, both White and the county GOP have their hands tied when it comes to forcing Berger off of the board of commissioners.</p><p>In North Carolina, there are only four ways to remove an elected official beyond their own resignation: if the member is convicted of a felony, corruption, financial or election law violations; the legislature passes an act removing him; or the attorney general brings action on behalf of the state in Superior Court. The board could also do an amotion, a North Carolina common law rule that deals with a private corporation removing an officer because he was unfit.</p><p>White said Friday that the board was exploring all legal options to help the board and the county staff feel safe. As a result, extra security precautions have been added at the county Government Center to prevent Berger from entering the county manager's office and county attorney's office after regular business hours.</p><p>White also said the board and county staff have looked into taking out a non-domestic violence restraining order against Berger, but no final decision has yet been made.</p><p>County officials said there were no new developments Monday.</p><p>Ashley Withers: 343-2223</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @AshleyWithers</p>